Series 2: Feminism and…

The Body

Topic 1

In our first topic of Series 2, we are speaking about the ways the feminist movement has engaged with discussions of the body. Our bodies are such a central part of our personal lives and political lives, and women’s bodies are as varied as anything. There’s just so much to talk about! So in this topic, we’ve dipped our toes into capitalism and our bodies in our theory article, (dis)ability and our bodies in our dictionary definitions, and the reality and artificiality of cis and trans women’s bodies in our podcast.

We have some excellent people writing and dictionary-defining this month.

We’re massively excited about our podcast too - our guests are Julia Serano and Talia Mae Bettcher, who are some of our favourite theorists around at the moment. Check it all out!

Julia Serano, Silvia Federici and Talia Mae Bettcher

Read

Read
Women’s Movements and ‘Backlash’
Women’s Movements and ‘Backlash’

This article expands on some of the ideas around Feminism and Backlash that we speak about in our podcast with Nancy Kelley. Check them both out!

Unpaid Community Labour of Black Women
Unpaid Community Labour of Black Women

In our article for Series 2 Topic 4, we unpack the work of Nina Banks, a feminist economist who argues that we need a framework for understanding not only classic labour, not only domestic labour, but community labour too.

Ecofeminism
Ecofeminism

In this explainer article, we unpack Vandana Shiva and Maria Mies’ theory in their book entitled ‘Ecofeminism,’ published in 1993. This theory, and Shiva in particular, were very influential in forming ‘old school’ eco-feminism.

Caliban and the Witch
Caliban and the Witch

How have feminists viewed the body? Silvia Federici’s answer in Caliban and the Witch involves witch-hunts, magic, machines, Capitalism and population decline.

Extended Version: Caliban and the Witch
Extended Version: Caliban and the Witch

This is an extended version of this month’s article, for anyone extra curious about Silvia Federici’s account of capitalism’s effect on our bodies.

Listen

Listen
The Reality and Artificiality of Our Bodies
The Reality and Artificiality of Our Bodies

Julia Serano and Talia Mae Betcher join us on our podcast to talk all things bodies. We speak about femininity, artificiality, reality, transness, and the politics of boundaries. Reading list and definitions included along the way!

Dictionary Definitions

Reached the end and still have questions? There’s buckets of theory you can get stuck into, check out the podcast pages for our references and recommendations. We always love being asked questions too (though no promises we know the answers). Leave us a comment, drop us a DM, or send us an email.